But on Dec. 9, 2014, Kents Little League president, Greg Whitcomb, went to an Office Depot and tried to use the leagues A.T.M. In a story that's become all too familiar in Minnesota youth hockey circles, the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association has fallen victim to embezzlement by one of its own employees, with approximately $90,000 stolen over a span of about three years. What I did was one of the worst examples you could ever set for your children.. Kelly Beth Alonso-Heath, 41, of Little Falls, has been charged in Morrison County District Court with one count of felony theft for her alleged role in the embezzling scheme. Weve had money coming in through donations already, so the hockey community has at least stepped up to support us and help us out as much as they can. Playing on the travel team is $125 more. The pair worked at a CPAP clinic in St. Louis Park. Hockey players from Little Falls, MN, USA. Take Holbrook Little League, for example. She used the funds to save her home and her car. Since 2007, Mr. Baker, who coached his two sons in the league, had been a responsible volunteer at the leagues many activities. Donations to the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association can be made by Venmo at @LittleFalls-YouthHockey or by mail to LFYH, PO Box 91, Little Falls MN 56345. Starting today, May 1st, and continuing throughout the month, city crews will be conducting their rounds, flushing fire hydrants. Despite safeguards put in place in nearly every youth hockey association in an effort to prevent skimming, embezzlement is still a common problem. "It's all about manipulating the system. We are able to do this because of generous donations from others and through our outstanding business sponsors! Two board members are also required to extensively review the clubs books monthly. However, the actual bank statement for that same period of time showed an ending balance of just over $27,000. Meanwhile, the clubs board members, facing a host of unpaid bills, were suddenly desperate to keep Tri-Boro solvent. Some weeks you may have more or less practices to try and balance the schedule out. Former Eagle River Resident Sentenced for Embezzling Approximately (Chanhassen, MN) -- The National Weather Service is issuing a Red Flag Warning today (Monday 12-8 pm) for 20 counties in northwest and west central Minnesota due to extreme fire risk conditions. I felt so guilty; I couldnt sleep at night, said Mr. Baker, who has since been ordered to pay $208,000 in restitution. Watch Hot Mic: Recapping a busy NFL Draft locally and for the Vikings, USHL hockey: Force down Tri-City in OT to win semifinals series, 'A fairly regular issue,' area animal shelters see no end in sight to overcrowding, Ashley Judd to speak at upcoming YWCA Cass Clay event, Before he quits touring for ministry, Granger Smith to bring farewell tour to The Lights in July, Port: Nearly 15% of North Dakota's House was absent for the last vote of the session. A A. Other youth baseball organizations Holbrook Little League and Belmar-Avon-Lake Como Little League eachhad their status revoked within the last two months. If the Economic Crimes Unit interviews someone who admits to stealing $20,000, Malinowski guesses the true amount is about three times as much. Hockey Comeback in progress after embezzlement rocks Little Falls Youth Hockey Generous gifts have been received by Little Falls Youth Hockey after a former treasurer was found to. Dana Quackenbush spends $200 for her daughter to play softball with North Wall Little League. "Motherhood, apple pie and Little League, to me, they're all together," Dancer said. According to the Youth Hockey Hub, the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association is home to about 140 players. Last year, the president of the Freehold Soccer League learned a bill for uniforms was unpaid, but money was missing from league accounts. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. A 2018 report from a New York TV station found more than 250 reported incidents nationwide of youth sports officials stealing money, and estimated more than $17 million was lost over a multi-year period. (231) 439-9346. "We are scrambling now to fix the situation," said Marsini, who noted that the league is refiling the last five years of tax returns. Kelly Beth Alonso-Heath has been charged with embezzling over $90,000 over 4 years as she acted as treasurer for the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association. An investigator found that year the amount of checks written out toAlonso-Heath increased substantially and by the end of the yearshe was receivingseveral thousand dollars in checks each month. Oversight of those sums is haphazard and not centralized, as there is no national agency in the country watching over youth sports. Some of the forms can be found on nonprofit watchdog sites like Guidestar and ProPublica. Shes a very, very nice woman, and I do not believe she went into this maliciously, intending on stealing the money. Xavier Henson was killed when the semi he was driving, which was pulling a tanker, overturned and caught fire. After the Press investigation of financial problems at Holbrook Little League, Assemblyman Ronald Dancer, R-Ocean, began drafting legislation aimed at making youth sports organization more transparent and accountable. It definitely was shocking. She's happy with the transparency at the league: The league's website advertises board meetings and anything involving fundraising from annual fees to bus trips is done with online registration. He and his wife, Sheri, have two sons: Sam (23) and Max (20). Target's new program for fast and free returns has arrived in the Twin Cities. A Medford woman has avoided prison after admitting she stole money reaching five . Bank records matched the timeframe of Alonso-Heath's story. Johnson said LFYH is not doing either of those things as they recover from the theft, acknowledging that many in the community are already hurting due to the pandemic. This year, the club is thriving, with a growing membership roll. But in reality, oversight of nonprofits are so lax that it makes theft from youth sports as easy as hitting a T-ball. An Eagle River woman has been sentenced for the crime of embezzling over $150,000 from a youth hockey organization over the span of several years. The museum features 60 'mind-bending' exhibits. Comeback in progress after embezzlement rocks Little Falls Youth Hockey Generous gifts have been received by Little Falls Youth Hockey after a former treasurer was found to have stolen about $90,000 from the association. "They are really connecting Holbrook with this theft rather than the Little League World Series.". Most Viewed Players Top 10 players NHL Players 1 NHL Drafted Players 1 All Players Alphabetically 143 Most Viewed Players. Horse races with coverall. Its very rewarding. It was time to play. 2019-2020, 2023 Heart and Dedication Award: Jordy Hansen, 2023 Boys Goalie of the Year: Carter Casey, 2023 Bantam Player of the Year: AJ Francisco, 2023 Wiz Wyatt Player of the Year: Landon Sampair, 2023 Sue Ring-Jarvi Girls Player of the Year: Talla Hansen. Wayzata's Talla Hasen joins a growing list of past SRJ Award winners. WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP, Pa. With downcast eyes and a microphone clenched in one fist, Brian Farley stood uneasily before nearly 400 children from the Tri-Boro Youth Soccer Club in eastern Pennsylvania. Little Falls - MN Hockey Hub Kelly Beth Alonso-Heath, 41, has been charged with theft of more than $35,000. Kelly Beth Alonso-Heath, 41, of Little Falls, has been charged in Morrison County District Court with one count of felony theft for her alleged role in the embezzling scheme. Middletown Little LeaguePresident John Marsini Jr., didn't learn that league'stax-exempt status had been revoked until a sponsor brought it up. "You guys went so far," fans of the Jackson-based team would say. Others are hiring bookkeepers. The mites will attend 4-5 jamborees. While a preponderance of cases occur in suburbia, there have been dozens of arrests in farm communities and in big cities, too, including Manhattan. After 29 Minnesotans were selected in last year's Phase I USHL Draft, how many can the State of Hockey produce in 2023? Well never see it all, she said. The safety of its participants is of paramount importance to USA Hockey. But there isn't a single youth sports league that's had its charity status revoked by the Division of Consumer Affairs, despite 47 percent of Shore leagues listed as non-compliant by the division, according to its charity registry. A husband and wife were implicated in Michigan after a neighbor, an accountant whose sons played for the baseball league, joined the board and scrutinized the books, leading investigators to a case that uncovered $300,000 in missing money. As Mr. Whitcomb retrieved the mail at home not long ago with his 15-year-old son, he saw an envelope from Mr. Baker. A new treasurer became alarmed, according to the complaint, when she found the organization had approximately $13,000 in the bank when there should've been approximately $130,000. News - youthhockeyhub.com Alonso-Heath reportedly blocked other board members access to the associations bank accounts, and presented falsified statements to the board members. There is another common thread to many fraud cases in youth sports: the scarcity of people running them, which significantly hampers the necessary oversight. Nevin Mann, whose children play for Holbrook, said there's room for improvement when it comes to keeping financial records open. "If there's no checks and balances, then it's not going to work. "If it's easy, people are going to do it.". It often takes suspicious board members or officers to uncover the wrongdoing. Youth sports: Thefts from Little League & other teams, IRS is too slow Mites:Mites should expect1 practice during the week and 1 practice on the weekends. Those steps to make league finances more transparent may soon become state law. Bantams:Bantamsshould expect 3-4practices during the week and 2-3 games on the weekend. They were the only people allowed to sign checks, make deposits or use a debit card for the league bank account,other board members said at a February meeting. A Press report on the Holbrook Little League's financial mess, published 24 hours before the arrests, launched a push for state legislation that would put stringent transparency rules in place for youth sports leagues. The number of kids, registration fee and expenses stayed flat. $140,106. And those are only the cases that have become public. Peter Odney In general, there is little data of any kind on how extensive embezzlement is among all nonprofit groups, let alone youth sports associations. ", Now nearly a year after the team of 12-year-old All-Stars including her son, Ryan went on their miracle run, their former fans' tone has changed following a high-profile arrest of the group's president and treasurer. "I almost went through all the stages of grieving," she continued, adding that both she and the community as a whole are not prone to cynicism or suspicion regarding its residents. While insurance will cover roughly half of the LFYH losses, their plans for arena upgrades including putting a roof over their outdoor ice sheet and improving the press box in their indoor arena have been put on hold because of a lack of funds. Little League Crime Stories: Embezzlement, Fraud & Worse - Fatherly Watch Hot Mic: Recapping a busy NFL Draft locally and for the Vikings, USHL hockey: Force down Tri-City in OT to win semifinals series, 'A fairly regular issue,' area animal shelters see no end in sight to overcrowding, Ashley Judd to speak at upcoming YWCA Cass Clay event, Before he quits touring for ministry, Granger Smith to bring farewell tour to The Lights in July, Port: Nearly 15% of North Dakota's House was absent for the last vote of the session. LITTLE FALLS, Minn. As if 2020 needed to throw one more challenge in the faces of youth sports organizers, the people who run the youth hockey association in Little Falls got a true look at their bank accounts in the spring, and what they found was shocking. Officials with Pop Warner did not return an email seeking comment. 0:04. Twenty percent for five years ends up being a lot of money.. Prosecutors in several states say embezzlement investigations involving youth sports have become common. Located at 212 W. Lincoln Ave downtown. The children of the accused are often best friends with the children of the accusers. "I was really, really upset and hurt," Johnson said over the phone on Wednesday afternoon. These include without limitation Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Screening, Locker Room Supervision and Hazing Policies, in addition to Codes of Conduct applicable to administrators, coaches, officials, parents, players and spectators. Alonso-Heath must serve the first 90 days of her confinement, beginning June 18. Kelly Beth Alonso-Heath later admitted to police that she had taken the money for personal use and to pay her bills, and is facing up to 20 years in jail per Minnesota state law. Sports Reporter Cries Foul When Own Son's Youth League Is Bilked A day after the meeting, the pair were charged by police with second-degree theft. Canadian youth sports groups are losing millions of dollars to fraud Comeback in progress after embezzlement rocks Little Falls Youth Hockey The purchase was denied. Otter Tail County Included in Red Flag Warning Issued for 20 Counties in West Central, NW Minnesota. Law enforcement officials estimate that they see only about half of the actual fraud in youth sports because organizations often cover up smaller misappropriations to protect their reputations and preserve the ability to raise money in the future. ", Mike Davis; @byMikeDavis: 732-643-4223; mdavis@gannettnj.com, two Holbrook Little League leaders were charged with misappropriating more than $118,000 in league funds, Holbrook Little League officials arrested, charged with theft, A Press report on the Holbrook Little League's financial mess, Ex-Freehold Soccer League treasurer jailed for theft, eventually charged then-treasurer Anthony Gallo with the second-degree theft of more than $400,000, the Press investigation of financial problems at Holbrook Little League, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Its very rewarding. Comeback in progress after embezzlement rocks Little Falls Youth Hockey Generous gifts have been received by Little Falls Youth Hockey after a former treasurer was found to have. Mr. Farley offered the club and prosecutors a restitution deal; the organizations leaders and the clubs parent group balked. Updated December 5, 2019. Results are affected by number of high school and juniors home games, home tournaments, and number of district teams at the peewee and bantam level. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Bantamswill play 35-40games throughout the season. WYANDOTTE, Mich. (FOX 2) - A mother entrusted as the treasurer for a youth hockey program is accused of embezzling $30,000. We never expected this from her. Little Falls Youth Hockey Association | Little Falls MN He soon learned that the league hadn't properly filed a Form 990 in over seven years, which Marsini said was due to a clerical error: A former treasurer included the wrong identification number and post office box. Nicolette Coleman-Jacobs of Ashburn was arrested in 2019 and charged with six felony counts of embezzlement, uttering and forgery in connection with allegations that she misused funds from McLean. With the money being gone now, it makes it impossible to do any of the improvements to the arena and impossible to put a roof over the outdoor sheet of ice that we have, said Carmen Johnson, the LFYH president, who said that the association tries to self-fund arena improvements to prevent increases in the cost of ice time. Yet watchdogs of the nonprofit industry note that youth sports organizations rarely put in place routine checks and balances, such as having multiple people in charge of the money, opening the door to fraud. Ms. Miller is skeptical. Softball: Lakers unable to overcome early deficits in both losses to Aitkin, Boys tennis: Pirates top Lakers by sweeping singles matches, nabbing No. FLASHBACK: Holbrook Little League officials arrested, charged with theft. In Winslow, Me. Minnesota State High School League. Kelly Beth Alonso-Heath later admitted to police that she had taken the money for personal use and to pay her bills, and is facing up to 20 years in jail per Minnesota state law. COLUMN: When youth sports become big business. She was found to have stolen more than $90,000 from the Little Falls Youth Hockey Association (LFYHA). Youth hockey association for Little Falls and surrounding communities. The inaugural TC Summer Fest is set for July 14-15. In an email, Stafford SC President Roger Budd said the club's board was "aware of the status of its 501(c)(3) and is in the process of having it reinstated" but did not detail what had led to the violations. LFYH never turns a child or family away! One watchdog estimates that parents spend $800 million on youth sports in New Jersey, and the 150 youth sports leagues in Monmouth and Ocean counties brought in $18 million in revenue last year. There are weeks these plans do not work out. Team Information - MYHockey "It's a very small organization, and it's a small community, so you just never thought that would happen," Johnson said. Alonso-Heath reportedly blocked other board members access to the associations bank accounts, and presented falsified statements to the board members. LFYH never turns a child or family away! little falls youth hockey embezzlement - facecamplondon.com Read More 1 Comment The Show 2020: All-Tournament Team By YHH Staff 09/16/2020, 6:30pm CDT People are always asking, Can I pay to get out of my time working in the concession stand? Mr. Whitcomb said. https://www.kare11.com/appredirect/\r Find KARE 11 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KARE11/\r Follow KARE 11 on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kare11\r Follow KARE 11 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kare11/ Youth hockey association victim of embezzlement Whitehead's three rules also apply when it comes to the hundreds in cash that parents raise through league-operated snack stand, or smaller fundraisers such as raffles, bake sales or literally passing a can around at league events. I got in a bad situation, and when youre in a bad situation, you make decisions that you wouldnt normally make.. Archive But keeping the books up-to-date is up to each individual team. With the money being gone now, it makes it impossible to do any of the improvements to the arena and impossible to put a roof over the outdoor sheet of ice that we have, said Carmen Johnson, the LFYH president, who said that the association tries to self-fund arena improvements to prevent increases in the cost of ice time. She explained Alonso-Heath had been the treasurer from mid-2016 until April 2020. 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Bahr is shirtless during Zoom meeting: Video, Roy Wood Jr. coming to the Fillmore in November, Shipping mix-up sends 14 lbs of pharmaceutical powder instead of kids' clothing, 'Hamilton' tour cast opens up about AAPI representation in the arts, Minnesota weather: A sunny start to a sunny week, Minneapolis mosques fires: Arson suspect arrested, Driver killed in fiery tanker truck crash in northern Minnesota, Love triangle led to deadly shooting in Howard Lake: Charges, What to do in Minnesota: 6 things to do this weekend (March 31-April 2), Suspected mom of newborn left in Wisconsin field arrested, Different kind of Paw Patrol coming to end in Ramsey County, Minneapolis 3rd precinct: 2 sites considered for new building. At that point, I wanted to find him, Ms. Miller said of Mr. Farley, and spit in his face.. Shes a very, very nice woman, and I do not believe she went into this maliciously, intending on stealing the money. Name Born Year | Latest Team Views; 1. According to the IRS, youth soccer organization Stafford SC hasn't filed its Form 990 since July 2004. Bingo Night! - Visit Little FallsVisit Little Falls From his Most Valuable Player performance during last summer's Bantam Elite League, to his legendary performance for Grand Rapids in the Bantam AA State Tournament quarterfinals, Casey's resume grows by the minute. The clubs leaders were so fearful that an irate parent might charge or assault Mr. Farley that they hired security to maintain order. By YHH Staff 09/23/2020, 3:15pm CDT. "That's where we're asking for people to look inside and see if they've got some extra change that can help out a small community," Johnson said. Schools: Little Falls High School, Pierz High School. Eagle River woman sentenced for embezzling $150K from youth hockey group Usually, it's paid in cash or a check. Orono junior overcomes malignant brain tumor and gives back to the game in numerous ways. Youth Hockey Hub says donations can be made via Venmo to username @LittleFalls-YouthHockey, or via mail to the association's PO Box 91 in Little Falls (zip code 56345). We see that you have javascript disabled. More than $90,000 was embezzled from a Minnesota youth hockey association, and the group's treasurer has been charged with stealing the funds and using the money on personal expenses. In addition to the IRS, nonprofits are also beholden to the rule of the Division of Consumer Affairs, an arm of the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office. Coaches and other club members have adapted to new policies mandating invoices and receipts for any reimbursable expenses, regardless of how small the sum. Youth hockey treasurer charged with embezzling more than $90K - KARE Rikki Ellen Varieur was a mom with the Wyandotte Warriors, is a. Johnson said LFYH is not doing either of those things as they recover from the theft, acknowledging that many in the community are already hurting due to the pandemic. Farley was basically paying off his bills and living as if the clubs account were his own, said Steven Luksa, the assistant district attorney who prosecuted the case. This website is powered by SportsEngine's. It wasn't clear where the funds had gone beforehand. She faces up to 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. Based on the financial reports he had been receiving from Mr. Baker, Mr. Whitcomb believed the league had $227,000 in bank and investment accounts. "Instead of posting on the league website, which I thought would be more convenient, they've made it known that if you want to see what's going onfor you to come to the board meetings," Mann said. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images) ((Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)). Their case has not come before agrand jury and the two men have not entered pleas but are presumed innocent. If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at 1-833-248-7801. But in 2011, he lost his job, and his wife moved to Idaho with the couples sons as part of a divorce. Per a criminal complaint filed in the early summer, a former Little Falls Youth Hockey treasurer could not account for around $90,000 of association funds that had gone missing. Subscribe to our channel for compelling and dramatic storytelling, award winning investigations, breaking news and information you can use.\r\rText your photos, videos and news tips to 763-797-7215.\r\r Subscribe to KARE 11 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_\r Watch more KARE 11 video: https://www.youtube.com/user/KARE11/v\r Visit KARE11.com: http://www.kare11.com/\r Download our app! We like comeback stories.". Revenue. The Kent Little League was actually in debt, owing uniform manufacturers $20,000. The clubs board members were forced to dip into their own pockets to help keep the club afloat after Farleys arrest. Kinsmann has started to wonder whether she gets any value in the more than $400 she pays for her two kids to register with Holbrook. In the case involving Pennsylvanias Tri-Boro Youth Soccer Club, Mr. Farleys crime was not uncovered until a new club president, Tino Babayan, hired a lawyer to advise the club about various matters, including its finances.
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